Author: lbharding

I hesitated to write this as I am afraid it may just add fuel to the raging fire that is the current state of fourth-wave feminism and the U.S. political culture. However, lately there has been an effort to understand how I reach my viewpoints and they are so wildly inaccurate I really feel compelled to provide some enlightenment.

I’ve heard everything from the ever-intellectual theory that I’m an “idiot” to the belief I’m less of an independent thinker than my urban counterparts and simply follow my husband’s lead. Regarding the first assumption, though it is not the only factor of intelligence, I do hold a 4-year degree and had a successful career in marketing and communications before choosing to stay home after becoming a mother. Furthermore, I tend to be more cerebral when deciding my political views basing my opinions upon truth, fact and my own ability to reason verses emotions or following the lead of my favorite celebrity. As for the second theory, I’ve always been more political than my husband; and, by the way, he didn’t even cast a vote in the last presidential election because… well, neither is someone we would have defined as a good, well-meaning individual purely out to serve. That’s putting it very mildly. I myself reasoned through their stances on important issues and then held my nose.

So let me break down some of my views for you and how I reach them. This is a blog about my catholic faith, which is another reason I hesitated to write this, but my faith plays a pivotal role in determining my political views. Now, I can already hear some of your sirens going off (Religious Nut!), but please hear me out. I’m going to discuss some principles of catholic social teaching and throw in a few sprinkles of rural life perspective to help you see my point of view if you are at all willing to try. I also want to add the disclaimer that not all Catholics reach the same conclusions. Again, this is MY reasoning, others are free to disagree for the most part.

“We are all called to be saints.” Sadly, I don’t think I heard this phrase until I was in my late twenties. I remember being told we are called to be holy during catechism growing up, however, I ignorantly never put the two together. I always saw the saints as better than human, I guess. Near angels called by God to impact the word with great and grandiose works. I was reading a Matthew Kelly book when I first heard/read that we are all called to be saints and, boy, was it convicting. At the time I wasn’t even fulfilling my responsibility to attend weekly mass and it became so apparent how little I expected of myself. My standards were low and I had never even imagined that God had sent me here to impact anyone. I was selfish and living completely for myself truly believing I didn’t have much to offer. Continue reading

Growing up I remember imagining the devil and demons being unable to enter a Catholic church; vividly seeing them shudder from the light, shrieking and cringing with every prayer. I thought everyone who entered our parish was instantly safe and no evil could be done within those walls. The priests and nuns I encountered seemed super-human, as if they didn’t struggle with temptation. They were like religious superheroes in my adolescent mind. As I grew up I realized this wasn’t entirely true, but there was still that sacredness of a Catholic church and the trustworthy faithfulness of those who served her.

When news first broke regarding the appalling behavior of Cardinal McCarrick followed by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, I sadly did everything I could to avoid hearing the disturbing details. Instead I tried to focus on my faith, grateful I’ve only known good shepherds who have faithfully served their parishes and communities. Yes, I was angry about the abuse, especially the incomprehensible manner in which leaders of the Church had dealt with these most awful of crimes for DECADES, but I didn’t want to face the individual victims. It was easier to generalize and not know specifics; to have the ability to hide from their horror.Continue reading

I recently became a fan of the British television show Call the Midwife and was particularly captivated by the fifth episode in season two which features a mother of a large family who is experiencing many mental and emotional struggles as she finds herself expecting yet again. Her story is heart wrenching as you see a woman depicted as reaching her breaking point. She ends up having serious complications after a back alley abortion gone wrong.

I’ve been there. The youngest of four children I had very little experience with kids except for my nieces and nephews. And, trust me, I wasn’t that fun aunt they couldn’t wait to see or begged to have sleepovers with. I just existed… across the room… unsure how to interact with them. Honestly, kids terrified me and I was convinced they could smell my fear like a wild animal about to attack its prey.

Growing up and through my early 20’s I regret to admit I fed into a stereotype many have about Catholics; I was going through the motions but not investing myself, my time, or my energy into my faith. As I now think of it, I was unconscious, shut down from the beauty of my faith as I strove for acceptance in our growingly secular society. Who wants to be the religious nut?

So where did striving for societal acceptance get me? I had plenty of friends, a nice career, an amazingly wonderful husband (still do), but I felt incomplete. A type of incomplete that I knew could not be remedied by anyone but myself… or so I thought. I knew it wasn’t up to my husband and I knew a simple career change wouldn’t make a difference. I felt it was internal.